Tag Archives: wavell heights

If you travel near Edinburgh Castle Road in Wavell Heights on the way to work, Retro Espresso is a great place to grab a long black. On Friday each week I drop in and grab a strong regular long black that can usually see me through until lunch time. Assuming I do not get bored and make another just to break up the morning. They use Segafredo beans and make a strong coffee.

On the weekends Retro espresso is a popular morning destination. The café attracts both people cluttering the side of the road with their cars, and a significant number of dog walkers. They do a decent breakfast even though they have no kitchen facilities, but they do well with their range of sandwiches and coffee.

If you live in Wavell Heights or you go through the area on the way to work, it is a great place to grab a takeaway coffee. Parking is easier than at the well known cafe spots, and you will be back on the way to your desk fast. If you are a local, for a weekend coffee in the morning, you will struggle to find somewhere as good locally too.

Wavell Heights has changed a little since the 1990’s. The housing prices have gone up, and the shops on the corner of Rode and Pfingst Road keep on changing. The bakery with their much loved pies and croissants is still there next to the Chinese takeaway, but across the road there is now a beauty parlour, a hairdresser and a new cafe, Nero Espresso.

Nero Espresso does a nice breakfast; I am rather fond of the egg and bacon sandwich. The cafe feels cosy and the decor is done in warm browns and reds with a well done feature wall. A box of children’s toys and a dogs’ water bowl by the door sit well with its laid-back, suburban feel.

The coffee does stand out a lot more in my mind though. Nero Espresso make a strong long black using a locally roasted bean called Velocity, done by Octane Coffee Co. I had mine with a single sugar, and I found it had a nice, strong, slightly rough flavour. It was good made at home with a stovetop percolator too.

Nero Espresso is one of a number of new cafes opening up in Wavell Heights and the surrounding area. As housing prices go up, and the demographics of the area change, there will inevitably be more coffee, and dinning options locally.